System for changing product specifications in a corrugation machine

Abstract: A product order specification change system for a corrugation machine having a slitter-scorer device and a plurality of cutoff devices for producing corrugated board sheets (5) having various widths and lengths, includes a cutting apparatus wherein at an order change where specifications for the sheet width are changed from one order to the next, a region is formed between the leading end of the new order sheets (5c', 5d') and the trailing end of the old order sheets (5a', 5b'), wherein a transitional slit groove (N) is cut connecting a slit groove (m) of the old order sheets (5c,5d) with a slit groove (M) of the new order sheets (5c,5f). As a result, the web (3) can be stably transferred through stages of the machine, the cutting dimension accuracy can be maintained precisely, and faults such as jamming can be eliminated.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for changing production orders in a corrugation machine which produces corrugated boards cut to different specific widths and lengths according to customers' needs. Related Art A product specification order change system of a corrugation machine to which the present invention is applicable is shown in Fig. 2. Such a system is disclosed in the European patent application EP-A-0 468 374 (MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA). A continuous corrugated board web 3, produced in a preceding portion of the corrugation machine not shown in the figure, enters the order change system portion of the machine at the right hand side of the figure and moves to the left in the direction of the arrows. As described in more detail below, element 2 is a rotary shear section, elements 1a and 1b are slitter-scorer sections, and element 22 is a length cut-off section. As shown in Fig. 8, a rotary shear 2 comprises a knife cylinder 25 having a knife 24 fixed thereon substantially along the total length thereof, and an anvil cylinder 26 mounted in parallel cooperating relationship with the knife cylinder 25. According to one conventional apparatus, the anvil cylinder 26 has a tapered diametrical shape along its length formed by an elastic body 27 which decreases in thickness from the central portion of the cylinder to a predetermined distance from the peripheral surface thereof. With this construction, the relative phase of the knife cylinder 25 with respect to the anvil cylinder 26 can be changed. By rotating the two cylinders 25 and 26 as the corrugated web 3 passes therethrough, the rotary shear 2 can either cut slits of predetermined length in the edges of the web 3 as shown, or can completely cut the web 3 along its width, as a function of the relative phase set between the cylinders. The rotary shear 2 performs the function of changing over the width setting of the trim 23a, 23b at the edges of the corrugated web so as to produce the desired width W 0 of corrugated sheet product generally designated by numeral 5 in Fig. 8. As shown, a plurality of product sheets 5a'-5d' can be produced by the corrugation machine. According to another conventional apparatus, the anvil cylinder 26 has a cylindrical shape along its axis formed by an elastic body 27. The rotary shear 2 can completely cut the web 3 along its width plural times by rotating the cylinders 25 and 26 as the web 3 passes therethrough, creating a gap in the continuous web of sufficient length that a "window" is created, providing sufficient time for the downstream apparatus such as the standby slitter-scorer 1b to switch from standby mode to the in-use mode as shown by 1a. Additionally, the cutoff device 22 can switch over to the next sheet length specification setting. Next, the function of the slitter-scorer portions 1a-1b of the corrugation machine will be outlined with reference to Figs. 2 and 8. The slitter-scorers 1a, 1b comprise a pair of upper and lower scorers 28a and 28b and a pair of upper and lower slitter knives 29a and 29b. The scorers 28a and 28b are used to place predetermined score lines on the corrugated web and the slitter knives 29a and 29b are used to form slit grooves in the web such as groove M for dividing the web into separate product sheets and trimming off the trim portions 23a and 23b. Two slitter-scorers 1a and 1b are typically installed along the web running direction to shorten the downtime of the machine required for changing the settings due to a change in product specifications for a new customer order to be processed, with an alternate one of the two slitter-scorers being used for each successive order. The width W of the corrugated board web 3 is set slightly wider than the overall width W 0 of the finished product sheets, so that the ends of the web where defects such as deviations in paper adhesion level or paste overflow occur are cut off as waste trim 23a, 23b and disposed of into trim ducts 30a and 30b. In order to change product sheet specification settings due to an order change, assuming that slitter-scorer 1a is in use, the trim position of the new order to be processed is sent as a signal from a system controller (not shown) to the standby slitter scorer 1b, where the position setting of the trim duct 30b and various settings for the new order are performed. At the same time, on the trim cutting rotary shear 2, the position of the knife 24 and the relative angle of the anvil cylinder 26 with respect to the knife cylinder 25 are set to attain the appropriate cutting length of the widthwise end notches or slits in the ends of the corrugated board web 3. The knife cylinder 25 and the anvil cylinder 26 are then synchronously rotated at predetermined timing intervals as the corrugated board web 3 passes through to form trim cutting notches at desired positions in the web. As the notch positions reach the standby slitter-scorer 1b, the pair of upper and lower scorers 28b are engaged with the web, and then the pair of upper and lower slitter knives 29b are engaged, by which processing of the new order is performed. On the other hand, the slitter-scorer 1a processing the old order successively releases the engagement of the upper and lower scorers 28a and the slitter knives 29a at the time that the front edge of the corrugated web of the new order reaches it. Slitter-scorer 1a then assumes a standby state and receives order change settings for the next order. The operations described above function to change only the trim width at the edges of the web according to a product order change in a two-sheet production setting, that is, the system changes from producing product sheets 5 c' and 5 d' to producing product sheets 5 a' and 5 b'. The conventional order change system can stably change product specifications under limited conditions such as where the slit groove M for separating the two sheets is continuous, where the cut lengths of the two sheets are the same even if the slit groove M is discontinuous between orders, or where only one product sheet is produced from the continuous web (not shown). However, in addition to the width of the product sheets, the cutting lengths L T and L D in a two-sheet production are often changed also as shown in Fig. 8. When the desired cutting lengths of the two product sheets are different, the paths of the sheets diverge at a length cutoff section 22 as shown in Fig. 2, so that the sheets are transferred to separate adjustable rotary drum cutoff shears 22a, 22b which cut the sheets to their respective desired lengths. Therefore, when the product specification is changed, for example, to have different widths as well as different lengths L T and L D as shown in Fig. 8, the slit groove M has a discontinuous portion 5O, which is torn as the sheets diverge at the cutoff section 22 and defective boards are produced. Further, jamming frequently will occur if the defective torn sheet becomes caught in a downstream transfer feed roller. To solve these problems, a cutting apparatus 31 as shown in Figs. 9(a) and 9(b) has recently been proposed. This cutting apparatus forms a groove N 0 at predetermined central positions in the width direction of the corrugated board web 3, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The central groove N 0 is produced by a knife cylinder 33 having a knife 32 fixed along the width thereof and a pressure plate mechanism 34 having a plurality of individual pressure pistons which selectively divides the corrugated web 3 into a plurality of sections in the width direction, each of which can be raised or lowered independently. The continuous web 3 is interposed between the knife cylinder 33 and the pressure plate mechanism 34 on an endless elastic belt 35 which is driven at predetermined timing intervals. As illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, a groove N 0 is formed in the central portion of the continuous web 3 by synchronously rotating the knife cylinder 33 and the elastic belt 35 while grasping the corrugated board web 3 at desired sections with the pressure plate mechanism 34 where the groove N 0 and the edge grooves are to be cut. The system of Figs. 9-11 produces a plurality of different kinds of corrugated product sheets having different cut lengths according to particular customer orders. Since a groove N 0 can be formed only at the portions of the web requiring the formation of a groove in the sheet width direction, torn sheets at the specification change point and other faults are eliminated even when the sheet width changes as shown in Fig. 10, as the central groove N 0 provides for continuity of the separation slit groove M between product specification changes for separating the sheets to the upper and lower stage cutoff devices 22a and 22b. However, when the continuous web 3 is divided into many product sheets 5a-5d as shown in Fig. 11, some sheets such as sheets 5c and 5f are completely cut along their width by the groove N 0 . As a result, a sheet with no continuity is created in the TOP sheet group or the DOWN sheet group passing to the cutoff device 22, such that control of the movement of the rear end of the old order sheet 5c and the front end of the new order sheet 5f is lost. Consequently, problems such as zigzag running of the sheets or variations in transfer speed occur. As a result, product sheet specifications such as the cutting length, angle, etc. become erratic, and various malfunctions and defects are caused until the sheet running conditions can be stabilized. In summary, in a corrugation machine which produces a plurality of different kinds of product sheets from a single continuous web, use of the rotary shear 2 of Fig. 8 causes the position of the slit groove M to become discontinuous at the order change point, causing the sheets to be still connected to each other when sent to separate cutoff length devices at the next stage of the machine. Therefore, the sheets are torn by the vertical separation of the sheet running path to the upper and lower cutoff devices causing defective boards to be produced. Use of the selective pressure plate mechanism of Figs. 9-11 forms a central groove N 0 at a predetermined position along the width direction of the continuous web, so that the slit groove M is made continuous between separate product orders, eliminating tearing of a sheet at vertical separation. However, when the groove N 0 in the central portion of the corrugated board web extends across a plurality of product sheets, one or more completely cut sheets will be formed causing sheet transfer control to become unstable with resultant production faults and defects. Moreover, it is known from the US-A- 4 007 652 a corrugation machine in which slit and trim grooves are cut by first high pressure liquid projection nozzles disposed to form at least two rows that extend transversely relative to the moving direction. A second projection nozzle is arranged to be driven to move transversely relative to the moving direction of the web so as to make a perpendicular connecting cut at an order change point and is provided at a downstream position of the sheet members, beow the first nozzles. The above-mentioned production faults and defects are not prevented in said corrugation machine. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problems with the conventional systems. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a product order specification change system such that when the trim width at the ends of the corrugated board web is changed or when the sheet widths are changed in a multi-sheet production, a slit groove can be formed only at the required portion in the middle of the web. Breakage of sheets at the specification change point and other faults are thereby eliminated, and the corrugated board web can be transferred downstream in a continuous state. According to the invention, when the sheet width specifications change in a multi-sheet production order, new and old order corrugated board sheets are not completely separated and are transferred to a downstream stage without tearing of the sheets, thereby avoiding production of defective sheets as well as jamming of the corrugation machine. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an order specification change system apparatus and method comprises a the features of the independent claims. The advantage over the prior art is that the web can be transferred stably, the cutting dimension accuracy can be maintained precisely, and faults such as jamming can be eliminated. Even if the position of the slit groove for separating sheets to upper and lower cutoff devices is varied at an order change, the slit groove for separating new and old order sheets can be made continuous. Moreover, the transitional slit groove for connection is formed slantwise at a predetermined angle with respect to the running direction of the continuous web. Therefore, there is no completely cut sheet even when the transitional slit groove extends across a plurality of separate corrugated board product sheets, permitting both new and old order sheets to be transferred downstream in a continuous state. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are presented for illustrative purposes only and which are not to be construed as limitative of the present invention, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating the processing of a corrugated board web on a corrugation machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of a corrugation machine of a type applicable to the present invention; Fig. 3(a) is a plan view of a cutting apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention for forming a transitional slit groove of an arbitrary angle and length in a corrugated board web with respect to the web running direction at a predetermined central position along the width direction of the web; Fig. 3(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between a knife transfer amount, a web running amount, and a cutting length of a product sheet in a cutting apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a front view of the cutting apparatus of Fig. 3(a); Fig. 5 is a left side view of the cutting apparatus of Fig. 3(a) with the rotating frame 6 removed ; Fig. 6 is a front view of a cutting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a front view of a cutting apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a conventional rotary shear and an illustration of faults produced by the conventional rotary shear; Figs. 9(a) and 9(b) are a front view and a left side view with the frame removed, respectively, of a conventional cutting apparatus for forming a central groove at a predetermined central position in the width direction of a corrugated board web ; Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the cutting condition and faults produced the cutting apparatus shown in Figs. 9(a) and 9(b) for a two-sheet production; and Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the cutting condition and faults produced by the cutting apparatus shown in Figs. 9(a) and 9(b) for a multi-sheet production. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS The present invention now will be described with reference to Figs. 1 through 7. Fig. 1 shows the processing of a product order specification change according to the invention and Fig. 2, described in detail above, shows the basic configuration of an order change system in a corrugation machine applicable to the present invention. Figs. 3 through 7 show various constructions of cutting apparatus according to different embodiments of the present invention for forming a transitional slit groove of a predetermined length in an inclined direction at a desired central position of the corrugated board web. With reference to Fig. 2, the system of the present invention comprises a corrugation machine having a cutting apparatus 4 which can form a transitional slit groove N (see Fig. 1) having a desired angle and length in an order change region with respect to the running direction of the corrugated board web 3 at a desired position on the corrugated board web 3. The rotary shear 2 and the cutting apparatus 4 are operated synchronously at predetermined times corresponding to product order change points, so that a slit groove M for separating product sheets (such as 5a and 5c of Fig. 1) to upper and lower stage cutoff devices 22a and 22b is made continuous while the trims (23a, 23b) of new and old orders are separated to be disposed of, thereby preventing the tearing of sheets and permitting a stable change of orders without generation of faults. The general configuration and functions of the inventive cutting apparatus will be described below. The cutting apparatus 4 for the corrugated board web 3 shown in Fig. 3(a), Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is provided with two sets of sprockets 9 and 10 which are fixedly mounted on an oscillating plate 8. Movable brackets 11a and 11b move in the axial direction on the surface of the oscillating plate 8. Oscillating plate 8 is pivotally mounted to a rotating frame 6 at one end thereof and is mounted to a moving frame 7 at the other end thereof. Two sets of sprockets 12a-13a and 12b-13b are pivotally mounted on the movable brackets 11a and 11b respectively. An endless chain 15 having a knife 14 fixed thereto is wound between the sprockets 9 and 10 and between the sets of sprockets 12a-13a and 12b-13b as most clearly seen in Fig. 4. Reference numeral 16 in Fig. 3(a) denotes a motor for pivoting the oscillating plate 8 about its axis in the running direction of the corrugated web 3, as shown by the arcuate arrow shown in Fig. 5. Reference numeral 17 denotes a motor for reciprocating the knife 14 across the width of the corrugated web 3 by rotating the sprocket 9 which in turn rotates the endless chain 15 having the knife 14 mounted thereon. In Fig. 4, a motor 36 rotates running wheels 18 mounted at the bottom of the moving frame 7 to run the moving frame 7 along a surface 20 in an arc about the supporting axis 19 of the rotating frame 6 (as shown by the arcuate arrow in Fig. 3(a)), to incline the oscillating plate 8 at a predetermined angle  relative to the width direction of the corrugated board web 3 perpendicular to the running direction of the web. Reference numeral 21 is an angle detecting means for detecting the swing angle  of the oscillating plate 8. The movable brackets 11a and 11b are constructed so as to move independently in the axial direction of the oscillating plate 8. Therefore, the knife transfer range (or cutting length) in Fig. 4 can be set by adjusting the relative distance between the brackets 11a and 11b. The oscillating plate 8 is pivoted about its axis by motor 16 in synchronization with the running speed of the corrugated board web 3, so as to reduce the cutting resistance of the knife 14 with respect to the corrugated board web. The cutting apparatus 4 is capable of cutting a transitional slit groove N in an order change region of a continuous corrugated board web 3 as shown in Fig. 1 at any desired angle and having any desired cutting length. As shown in Fig. 3(b), the angle and length of the transitional slit groove N can be represented as a vector equal to the sum of a web running amount vector and an oscillating plate vector having an amplitude equal to the knife transfer range and an angle  equal to the angle of the plate 8 relative to the width direction of the web perpendicular to the web running direction. The plate 8 can be oriented at a positive angle  P in the positive web running direction or at a reverse angle  R reverse to the web running direction as shown in Fig. 3(a). The points P 0 and R 0 represent the position of the slit groove M along the web width for an existing production run prior to an order change, and the points P and R represent the new position of slit groove M for the new product order after the order change. The direction of the transition from the old position of groove M to the new position of groove M determines whether the plate 8 should be pivoted at a positive angle  P or a negative angle  R . The distance from R 0 to R or from P 0 to P, which is known by comparing the old and new order specifications, is used as the set distance between the brackets 11a and 11b to form the knife transfer amount or range. The cutting length of the transitional slit groove N is a function of the web running amount, or length of web 3 passing under the plate 8, during the time that the knife 14 traverses from one of the brackets 11a or 11b to the other. The cutting length may be adjusted by changing either or both of the running speed of the web 3 or the speed of the motor 17 which rotates the endless belt 15. Varying the speeds during cutting of the transitional slit groove N allows any desired shape slit groove to be formed as shown in Fig. 1. A cutting apparatus 37 according to other embodiments of the invention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. These embodiments use either a water jet or a laser beam in place of the knife 14 on the cutting apparatus shown in Figs. 3 through 5. Thus, the order change region between the boundaries of new and old order sheets can be separated by cutting a transitional groove in any desired shape. Reference numeral 38 denotes a frame for supporting an endless chain or belt 15, 39 denotes a water jet nozzle or laser beam device mounted to the chain 15, and 40 denotes a receiving member for the water jet or laser beam which is mounted under the water jet nozzle or laser beam device. In the embodiment of Fig. 7, motor 17 directly rotates the water jet nozzle or laser beam device 39 without the use of an endless belt. The cutting apparatus 37 for the central portion of the web 3 is operated in a real-time mode in conjunction with the conventional rotary shear 2.

Claims: A method for changing over production orders in a corrugation machine which produces corrugated board sheets (5a-5d, 5e-5g) having various widths and lengths according to specifications of said production orders simultaneously from a single continuous corrugated board web (3) running through said machine, characterized by the steps of: forming an order change region in said web (3) which extends from trailing ends of sheets (5a-5d) produced in a first production order to leading ends of sheets (5e-5g) to be produced in a second production order; and forming a transitional slit groove (N) in said order change region of said web (3) connecting a central slit groove (M) separating sheets (5c, 5d) of said first production order to a central slit groove (M) separating sheets (5 e , 5f) of said second production order, said central slit grooves dividing said web into first and second web portions which pass to first and second sheet length cutoff devices (22a, 22b) respectively, wherein said transitional slit groove (N) forms an angle with respect to the width direction of said web (3), said width direction being perpendicular to the running direction of said web (3). A method according to claim 1, further characterized by the steps of using cutting means comprising a knife (14) fixed to an endless belt (15), said endless belt (15) being mounted on sprockets (9, 10, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) fixed on a plate (8) located adjacent to said web (3) and mounted on a rotating frame (6), driving said endless belt (15) so as to traverse said knife (14) across said order change region; and pivoting said plate (8) about an axis of said rotating frame (6) to a predetermined position so as to cause said knife (14) to form said transitional slit groove (N) at said angle. A method according to claim 1, further characterized by using cutting means comprising a water jet nozzle or a laser beam device (39) which generates a water jet or laser beam sufficient to form said transitional groove (N) in said order change region of said web (3), said water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) being mounted on a frame (38) located adjacent said web (9); and traversing said water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) to form said transitional slit groove (N) at said angle. A method according to claim 3, comprising the step of using an endless belt (15) mounted on said frame (38), said water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) being fixed to said endless belt (15), and rotating said endless belt (15). A method according to claim 3, comprising the step of pivoting said water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) about an axis in the running direction of said web (3). A corrugation machine which produces a plurality of corrugated board sheets (5a-5d, 5e-5g) of various widths and lengths simultaneously from a single continuous corrugated board web (3), said corrugation machine comprising: a slitter-scorer device (1a, 1b) for cutting slit grooves in said web to divide the web into said plurality of corrugated board sheets (5a-5d, 5e-5g) and for cutting trim grooves for removing peripheral trim sections (23a, 23b) from said web (3); and a plurality of sheet length cutoff devices (22a, 22b) for simultaneously cutting said corrugated board sheets (5a-5c and 5d; 5e and 5f-5g) to different desired lengths; an order change cutting apparatus; characterized in that said order change cutting apparatus (4, 37) is adapted to implement the method according to claim 1 and comprises: means for forming an order change region which extends from trailing ends of sheets (5a-5d) produced according to a first production order to leading ends of sheets (5e-5g) to be produced according to a second production order; means for cutting a transitional slit groove (N) in said order change region of said continuous corrugated board web (3), said cutting means being configured to form said transitional slit groove (N) so as to join a central slit groove (M) separating sheets (5c, 5d) of said first production order with a central slit groove (M) separating sheets (5e, 5f) of said second production order, said central slit grooves dividing said web into first and second web portions which pass to first and second sheet length cutoff devices (22a, 22b), respectively; and means for controlling said cutting means so as to form said transitional slit groove (N) at said angle with respect to the width direction of said sheets (5a-5d, 5e-5g), said width direction being perpendicular to the running direction of said web (3) through said corrugation machine, and so as to maintain continuity of each of said first and second web portions by avoiding complete severing and separation of board sheets from said web portions. A corrugation machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cutting means comprises a knife (14) fixed to an endless belt (15), said endless belt (15) being mounted on sprockets (9, 10, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) fixed on a plate (8) located adjacent to said web (3) and mounted on a rotating frame (6), and means for driving said endless belt (15) so as to traverse said knife (14) across said order change region; and wherein said controlling means comprises means (18, 36) for pivoting said plate (8) about an axis of said rotating frame (6) to a predetermined position so as to cause said knife (14) to form said transitional slit groove (N) at said angle. A corrugation machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cutting means comprises a water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) which generates a water jet or laser beam sufficient to form said transitional groove (N) in said order change region of said web (3), said water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) being mounted on a frame (38) located adjacent said web (9); and wherein said controlling means comprises means for traversing said water jet or laser beam device (39) to form said transitional slit groove (N) at said angle. A corrugation machine as set forth in claim 8, further comprising an endless belt (15) mounted on said frame (38), said water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) being fixed to said endless belt (15), and wherein said means for traversing comprises a motor (17 (Fig. 6)) for rotating said endless belt (15). A corrugation machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for traversing comprises a motor (17 (Fig. 7)) for pivoting said water jet nozzle or laser beam device (39) about an axis in the running direction of said web (3).

Inventors: ANDO MAKOTO, HIRAKAWA TADASHI, SEKI YUKUHARU, ANDO, MAKOTO, HIRAKAWA, TADASHI, SEKI, YUKUHARU, ANDO, MAKOTO, C/O MIHARA MACHINERY WORKS, HIRAKAWA, TADASHI, C/O MIHARA MACHINERY WORKS, SEKI, YUKUHARU, C/O MIHARA MACHINERY WORKS
Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD, MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B31B1
IPC codes: B26D1, B26D7, B29C65, B31B1, B31F1, B26D9, B26F3